Twin Cities Youth Sailing FAQ's

Membership

Membership is $20 and should be paid at the first regatta in which you participate.

Guest Sailors

Guest sailors who only wish to participate in a single regatta can pay a $5 single TCYS event fee, plus associated regatta fees, to participate in that regatta.


Please note that TCYS follows the Optimist class age rules (USODA) for the season series rather than the ILYA rules. The most important different is that you may NOT sail an optimist in a TCYS event the year you turn sixteen although you maybe able to compete in the ILYA Optimist Championship.

We determine age as of the date for the first TCYS event so that the competitors' fleet color most closely reflects their age during the season summer.

What is the deal with the Optimist age rules?

We are following the USODA rule (can't turn 16 in 2006) and determining age as of the season's first regatta and using it for the entire season since it's series scoring.

For USODA national events or regional events that adhere to the USODA rules, like the Red, White and Blue Chip regatta, your fleet is determined by your age as of the first day of the regatta.

What is allowed as far as coaching goes?

Coaching by school coaches is allowed in green fleet anytime during the race with emphasis on coaching to reduce frustration and coaching the last half of the fleet.

This includes sailing tips, directions or general encouragement.

Can I coach my own child?

No. Parents may not coach their kids - leave it to the coach. If you find this unreasonable, please reflect on what it would mean if all parents coached their children on the water.

 

Green Fleet

The goal of green fleet is get the kids comfortable in the boat, racing around the course in the correct direction and generally having fun while improving their skills. Winning is not the issue so coaches should be at the back of the fleet not the front.

 

Coaching in Other Fleets

Coaching is NOT allowed at anytime during the regular red-white-blue Optimist, Laser or club 420 races during the racing or start sequence.

Coaches may occasionally be seen talking to Opti racers at the back of the fleet in the Red, White and Blue fleet to make sure they are okay.

Observing the Racing

Please stay well back of the racing area so you don't interfere with the sailor's wind and don't inadvertently herd sailors who are coming out to bang a corner. You may be in their way.

Please avoid distracting your child while they are racing by yelling at them. This fairly frequently also results in complaints that a particular parent is coaching their child.